Here’s my mantra: ‘Every mile is a gift.’

Life is a marathon, not a sprint; pace yourself accordingly.

I've always liked hills. I see a challenge, a goal, and I feel instantly galvanized to achieve that goal.

As we run, we become.

Winning is not about headlines and hardware [medals]. It's only about attitude. A winner is a person who goes out today and every day and attempts to be the best runner and best person he can be. Winning is about struggle and effort and optimism, and never, ever, ever giving up.

As runners, we all go through many transitions-- transitions that closely mimic the larger changes we experience in a lifetime. First, we try to run faster. Then we try to run harder. Then we learn to accept ourselves and our limitations, and at last, we can appreciate the true joy and meaning of running.

Set a goal and a program for yourself, and everything else will follow. Guaranteed.